Toy block and puzzle



May 21,1940. c. E. GABLE 2,201,724

TOY BLOCK AND PUZZLE Filed July 7, 1957 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

C. E. GABLE TOY BLOCK AND PUZZLE May 21, 1940.

5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 7, 1937 INENTOR B%;/42Z$E 6451.5

W ATTORNEY.

y 1940. c. E.- GABLE TOY BLOCK AND PUZZLE Filed July 7, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. 0/4 15 5 645 ATTORNEY.

May 21, 1940.

C. E. GABLE;

TOY BLOCK AND PUZZLE Filed July '7, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

M ATTORNEY.

Patented May 21, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC "I11 6 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in toys and more particularly to blocks and puzzles.

. One object of the invention is to provide a series of toy blocks which are adapted to be as: sembled into a geometric figure.

Another object is to provide a series of blocks, each having several of its faces decorated with portions of several designs or pictorial representations, whereby when the individual blocks are correctly assembled to form a figure, the portions of the representations or indicia on the faces of the blocks arranged in the same plane, will collectively and conjointly form a complete design or pictorial representation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a puzzle polyhedron composed of a series of irregularly shaped solid sections or blocks formed by cutting the polyhedron into said sections, which can, as desired, be made either simple or difiicult to assemble into the solid, by varying the manner of cutting the solid into'the individual sections.

This puzzle may include assembly pins serving to retain the individual sections together during,

assembly to act as guides to the correct solution of the complete assembly, or to hold all sections of the puzzle together after assembly.

This puzzle polyhedron may also hav its exterior faces, plain, colored, different colors or pro- .A still further object of the invention is to pro- I vide means and methods for bedecking the blocks with gay and brilliant colors, flanked with a background of natural wood effects, to impart a futuristic effect quite different from the usual colored blocks children are accustomed to playing with.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of the application and wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the several views:

Fig. l is a perspective view of one form of invention contemplating a series of blocks or sections, each block having each of its faces provided with a portion of a complete picture or o namentation, which when properly assembled with the proper faces of the remaining blocks of the series will form a complete pictorial representation.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a completely assembled figure composed on several solid sections formed by cutting the figures or cube through each of three of its faces to the opposite three faces with a single cut through each face.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of this form of cube partially assembled with the individual sections composing the block or cube.

Figs. 3a to 31' are perspective views of the sep-. arated individual sections.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of another cube having each of its three faces cut through with three cuts to the opposite faces.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of this form of tions or blocks.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic figure showing a method of cutting the solid.

Referring now moreparticularly to the drawings and the form of puzzle shown in Fig. 1, a series of cubes are shown, which are adapted to be assembled into a complete rectangular figure, on one face of which appears a complete picture or representation formed by the exposed faces of the individual blocks which are arranged in a single plane. All other faces of the assembled cubes which are arranged in other single planes, do not form one complete pictorial representation or picture, but disconnected parts of other complete pictures which can be formed by re-arranging the cubes so as to dispose the proper faces in the same single plane to form a complete picture or representation. In this manner, and when cubicle figures are used, each possessing six possible faces or sides to expose and be arranged in groups, six different ways to form. six complete pictures from the entire set.

As all of the cubes of one series are identical in shape and appearance with the exception of each face of each cube possessing a part of a complete picture, a description of one cube will suffice for all. Each cube is designated in its entirety by the numeral I0 and is preferably a solid block of wood or other material, although it may be formed hollow from other material, such as cardboard, papier mach, etc. Each cube ll) of the series of six in this instance, has each face thereof provided with approximately one-sixth part of a complete picture or design, such picture of each block being designated by the nucube partially assembled from individual sec- 20 meral ll, that when the proper faces of all six cubes are arranged in the same plane and in proper order, a complete picture will be formed by the six individual faces of the six cubes.

When the cubes are in this proper relationship to give one complete pictorial representation on one side of the geometric figure formed by all of the cubes, the other faces of the cubes arranged in common planes will not form a complete picture or ornamentation, thereby inviting other arrangements of the cubes of the set to form different complete pictures. In other words, when the cubes are arranged to display a complete picture II on the exposed faces of the cubes arranged in one plane, the uppermost exposed faces of the three cubes at the top of the figure will contain portions of other complete pictures, but will not of themselves, form such complete picture. For example, the top of the upper left hand cube is provided with a semi-circular figure or ornamentation l2 and the other part or semicircular figure l2' forming with I2 a complete circular object will be found on the left hand face of the lower right hand cube of the series and by arranging the proper faces l3 of the six cubes, the ornamentation l2 and I2 will form with the other four blocks a completed picture incorporating the circular figure. Thus, as each face of each cube contains different ornamentation, six different complete pictures can be formed by properly arranging the series of blocks. In Fig. 1, the cubes are shown slightly separated from their complete assembled relationship for clarity, but it will be understood that when the blocks are completely assembled they are arranged in contact with one another so as to form the complete picture such as represented on the top faces of the six cubes illustrated in Fig. 1.

It will of course be understood that other forms of figures and geometric solids may be formed from the complete assembly of the entire series of blocks. These individual cubes of all modifications herein disclosed are of unique appearance. They are not ordinary painted blocks such as are found on the market today, but present unique attractiveness by reason of each being a solid wooden cube, so as to present edge grain on four of its faces and the usual plane grain on the other two faces. Quite unique results have been obtained by cutting the cubes from sugar pine which is comparatively light and easily worked, and staining all six faces so as to develop the grain structure darker than the normal color of the wood. In order that the coloring of the pictorial representation on the block will be vivid, brilliant and attractively lasting, as well as inexpensive, I employ transfer decalcomanias which are dipped in water for a few seconds to loosen the color transfer from its base. This loosened transfer is then slid face up on to the face of the block and pressed down with absorbent material. After it is dry, the face of the block is given a coat of clear shellac. These brilliant colors obtained from decalcomanias present a unique appearance on the natural wood background and present a futuristic appearance highly attractive to children accustomed to the ordinary A B C blocks having the usual solid colored backgrounds. An effort has been made to depict this uniqueness in the blocks of Fig. I particularly.

My invention contemplates the formation of a unique puzzle generally of the jigsaw type but much more fascinating and entertaining because it deals with solid figures rather than plain figures, geometrically speaking. One of the cube blocks heretofore described and ornamented as desired on any one or more of its exposed sides or faces is divided into several dissimilar irregularly shaped sections by one or more saw cuts through three adjacent faces of the cubes extending all the way through to the opposite three faces, thereby causing the saw cuts to intersect and be arranged in three different planes. In Figs. 2 and 3 I have illustrated such a cube possessing six faces numbered 1 to 6, with or without ornamentation, depending upon how difficult it is desired to render the assembly of the individual sections. When three or more saw cuts are made through each of the three faces, so that the puzzle contains I25 or more small sections, it is desirable to provide a different picture or design on each of the six faces of the cube, or color each of the six faces different colors so as to form some guide to the correct solution in order that the puzzle will not become monotonously difficult to reassemble.

In Figs. 2 and 3, the cube is shown as being provided with three irregular saw cuts, one from each of the three adjacent faces all the way through the block to the corresponding opposed faces, the horizontal cut from face 3 to face 4 of the cube ,being designated by the numeral 1, the second vertical saw cut from face 5 to face 6 being designated by the numeral 8 and the third vertical saw cut 9 extending from the face I through to face 2 and being arranged in a plane substantially at right angles to the plane of the cuts 1 and 8. Likewise, the saw cut 8 is arranged in a plane substantially at right angles to both the cuts 1 and 9. It will also be obvious that each of the saw cuts from one face to an opposite face also extends through the two included faces of the cube thereby dividing it into eight separate irregularly contoured solid sections or blocks, which when properly assembled, form a perfect cube. The irregularity of contour of the individual sections is of course made possible by making the saw cuts 7, 8 and 9 somewhat serpentine and irregular rather than perfectly straight cuts through the block. It is not necessary that all of the saw cuts be irregular as some may be perfectly straight while others are of varying curves to change the contour of the individual sections as may be desired.

As stated previously, one saw cut through each of the three adjacent faces divides the cube into eight individual sections l4, l5, l6, l1, I8, I9, 20 and 2|.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 3 and 3a, it will be noted that the section 14 is the upper left hand corner section having a pair of vertical tongues or projections 22 and 23 and one horizontal projection 24. A pair of recesses 25 and 28 are provided by the projections 22 and 23 formed by the irregular saw cut 9. It will also be noted that this section 14 is provided with a substantially straight edge 21 which is adapted to be arranged contiguous to the edge 28 of block l5 representing the uppermost corner block in Fig. 3. Thissection l5 also is provided by the saw cuts with a pair of vertical projections or tongues 30 and 3| and one horizontal projection 29 which when assembled with section l4 slips in between the projections 23 and 24. When the section I4 is superimposed upon the section l8, it will be seen that the projection 24 fits in cavity 32 of section 18 and that projection 30 of section l5 fits in depression 33 of section IS. The projection 22 of section I4 is provided with a recess 34 undercutting the projection and adapted to fit over part of projection 35 of section 20 when the sections are properly assembled. It will be observed that the projection 35 is also undercut to form a.recess 36 for the reception of projection 3'? not interlocked with the internal ribs or tongues and grooves and undercuts. Straight holes 8| for the pins through the cube sections are drilled through the three plain exterior faces of all of section. l6 and a recessed portioi'i 38for-thesre corner blocks prior to saw cutting the cube into ception of projection 35 of section 20. The secthe individual sections. By leaving certain pins tion I6 is also provided with recess 39 to receive projection 22 of section M as well as the projection 23 thereof being received in recess 40 of section i6. The projection 31 is slightly undercut and extends lengthwise of the section to terminate in a projection 4|.

The two sections l8 and IQ of the cube can only slide together in a plane paralleling the faces I and 2, so as to locate the rib 42 in the recess or socket 43 between parallel ribs 44 and 45 of section I8. This interlocks these two sections against separation in a plane perpendicular to the face I of section It. When properly assembled, the small recess 46 registers with opening 4'! in section I8 and the groove 48 of section I6 fits over the portion of the rib 42 projecting through the opening 41. A rib 49 normal to the rib 42 extends transversely of the section to align with a transverse rib 50 of section I8 and over which the recesses 34 of section M and recess 5| of section l5 fit. Sections l8 and I9 are provided with recesses 52 and 53 respectively to receive the ribs or projections 24 and 23. When these two sections are assembled, the rib 49 overlaps ribs 44 and 54 and the undercut portion 55 of rib 42 overlaps rib 45. This undercut portion 55 is in a vertical rib 56. In section l8, the rib 50 overhangs a vertical rib 51 to lit in a vertical recess 58 of section 20.

The sections l6 and I1 fit together by a horizontal rib 59 fitting into recess 60 of section l6,- which causes the end of rib 4| to fit the curved end 6| of transverse rib 62 of section I! and causes ornamentation to be complementary to the surface ornamentation 64 on section I6 and the face 3 of the cube.

Section 29 has a vertical fragmentary rib 65 to fit in recess 38 of section I6 and to align with a fragmentary rib 66 of section 2|, which fits a recess, not shown, in the back of section 5. Section 26 has an undercut recess 61 which slidably receives ribs 68 of section 2| when the two sections are moved in a plane parallel to the face of the cube and the two ribs 69 and 16 of section 20 fit in recesses H and 12 respectively of section 2|. The inner end of rib 68 fits in cavity 13 of rib 42 of section I9. While a projection 14 of section 20 fits in a cavity 15 of section IS. A recess 16 formed by the saw cut 9 is exposed in Fig. 3 and receives a small piece or section IT between the recesses 48 and 16, which may be left out of the puzzle to render it more baffling of solution. The ribs- 65 and 66 are undercut in forming a groove 18 and 19 in sections 20 and 2| respectively to receive ribs 31 and 62 of sections I6 and If! respectively. To assist in assembling the puzzle and to retain the sections assembled. twelve pins 89 are employed. They are divided into three sets of four each. one set being used for extension through the cube and individual sections from one face of the cube to the opposite complementary face thereof. One set of four pins extends through face I to face 2, another set from face 3 to face 4, and the third set from face 5 to face 6. Consequently, the sets of pins are arranged in the same planes as the saw cuts and therefore in intersecting planes to pass through all individual sections of the cube and tie together those sections of the cubes which are in the individual sections or blocks, projecting as shown in the drawings, assembly of the sections is facilitated. Certain of the blocks or sections are illustrated with a pair of pins projecting therethrough and therefrom in planes at right angles to one another to illustrate this and to serve in guiding one section into fitting relatlon with its complementary section.

It will also be seen that the surface ornamentation on the various faces of the cube being divided by the small cuts, will aid in fitting the odd internal projecting parts of the individual sections together in assembling, and will offer an incentive to children to employ their ingenuity in assembling the weird geometric shaped sections.

A puzzle cube involving the same conditions is illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, and is a more involved and complicated puzzle in that each of the three adjacent faces of the cube are provided with three saw cuts through the cube to the opposite complementary faces so at each of the six faces of the cube is divided into sixteen sections,

all of which may possess surface ornamentation as shown,.and a plurality of internal sections 83 of varying shapes depending upon the contour or shape of the saw cuts. These internal sections 83 possess no surface ornamentation and are perfectly plain wooden sections, the only assistance to their correct assembly being in their interfitting shape and the natural grain structure of the wood from which the cube puzzle is made. The individual sections 84 having exposed faces in the completely assembled cube are provided with sections of surface ornamentation 85, which when the cube is properly assembled, cooperate with the surface ornamentation on the other blocks forming each face to complete a complete picture or ornamentation. The individual sections of the nine out cube are held together and are assisted in being properly assembled by twelve pins the same as the preceding form of invention, but do not pierce every block of the twelve cut cube, since the internal center sections of this form and the central sections of each exposed face are not arranged in the paths of the pins. Accordingly, in this respect also the puzzle is rendered more diificult of assembly or solution.

It will be understood to be within the range of my invention, to provide as many saw cuts through each face as desired and that the same number of saw cuts need not be,made through each of the faces. Further, that the saw cuts instead of being arranged normal to those extending through adjacent faces, may be inclined with respect to such other complementary cuts so as to increase the oddity of shape of the individual sections constituting the cube. Furthermore, the saw cuts through all faces may be of such configuration as to cause all of the individual sections of the cube to be interlocked so that they can only be assembled by sliding a rib or tongue lengthwise through a complementary groove of an adjacent section.

Forms of the invention not requiring the pins to hold individual sections together or to aid in assembling the same, may include a single saw cut through each of three adjacent faces of the cube as in Fig. 3 with each of the three saw cuts of serpentine form providing each individual section with one or more kinds of dove-tail projections to interlock with an adjacent section. With this kind of cut, the individual sections cannot be pulled apart in directions across the dovetailed projections, but can only be separated by sliding four of the eight sections as a unit parallel with the dove-tail projections, and each of said four sectionscan only be separated and assembled by sliding each of the two pairs of sections in a direction parallel with their own internal projections, and each of the pairs can only be separated by sliding each section of each pair in a direction normal to the direction of separation of the four sections from theother complementary four sections. Other odd internal projections for the individual sections by cutting the saw cuts through one or more faces of the cube while the cube or saw is tilted at an angle as shown in Fig. 6, so that the plane of of the saw cut is not perpendicular to the bottom face of the cube. To

a make other odd internal shapes for the sections,

the cube may be tilted a second time as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6 in a plane different than the first tilted plane while the saw is making a single out. Also, the saw cuts may be assorted in shapes, some being serpentine while an adjacent one or ones through the same face or other faces may be perfectly straight through the block from one face to the opposite face, thereby giving rise to innumerable interior shapes and configurations for the individual sections. It may be desired to form a puzzle cube without any surface ornamentation or pin holes or pins or any other helpful indicia for assembling the individual pieces other than the natural grain structure of the wood from which the puzzle cube is constructed. It will also be apparent that the saw cuts extending through any one of the exposed faces may be positioned to intersect each other rather than being arranged in somewhat parallel relationship.

It is to be understood that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 1. A puzzle comprising a polyhedron divided into a plurality of irregularly shaped solid pieces by cuts extending through the polyhedron from three adjacent faces to the opposite three faces, to divide the polyhedron into layers, each composed of a plurality of solid pieces defining the corner pieces, said corner pieces forming part of three adjacent faces of the polyhedrons, at least two pins extending through each corner piece parallel to its corner edges and extending to adjacent corner pieces, the pieces between the corner pieces and defining the corner edges of the polyhedron each having a single hole to receive one of said pins from an adjacent corner piece.

2. A puzzle comprising a polyhedron divided into a plurality of irregularly shaped solid pieces by cuts extending through the polyhedron from three adjacent faces to the opposite three faces, to divide the polyhedron into layers, each composed of a plurality of solid pieces defining the corner pieces, said corner pieces forming part of three adjacent faces of the polyhedron, at least two pins extending through each corner piece parallel to its corner edges and extending to adjacent corner pieces, the pieces between the corner pieces and defining-the corner edges of the polyhedron each having a single hole to receive one of said pins from an adjacent corner piece, and other pieces of the polyhedron not defining a corner edge being retained in proper position in the polyhedron by the other pieces thereof which have a pin extending therethrough.

3. A puzzle comprising a polyhedron divided into a plurality of mating pieces which when assembled form the solid poyhedron having corner pieces and pieces between the corner pieces, and means extending from each corner piece to adjacent corner pieces and parallel to the edges of the polyhedron to facilitate assembly and to temporarily retain the pieces between the corner pieces in position during assembly and in position in the polyhedron.

4. A puzzle comprising a polyhedron composed of a plurality of heterogeneous pieces, some of the pieces being corner pieces, and three removable pins extending through each corner piece in three different directions to the adjacent three corner pieces to form a frame of somewhat the form of the polyhedron and to assist in retaining pieces of the polyhedron in assembled form.

5. A puzzle comprising a polyhedron divided into a plurality of layers in three different planes and composed of heterogeneous pieces defined by the polyhedron being cut with a continuous cut in a vertical plane from one exterior face to its opposite exterior face, a second adjacent exterior face having a continuous cut in a vertical plane to its opposite exterior face, and a third adjacent exterior face having a continuous cut in a horizontal plane through to its opposite face.

6. A puzzle comprising a polyhedron divided along three continuous paths starting from three adjacent exterior faces and continuing through to the three opposite exterior faces, the path through one face being disposed in a vertical direction, the second path through an adjacent face being disposed in a horizontal direction, and the third path through a third adjacent face being disposed in a vertical direction and at substantially right angles to the first two paths.

CHARLES E. GABLE. 

